Current log home trends include mixing species of wood and incorporating stone, drywall and other building materials.

This is the second in a series introducing different forms of systems-built housing and the possibilities that exist when putting these concepts into practice. This issue: log and timber homes.

Builders seeking to expand the types of homes they build should consider adding artistic and profitable log and timber homes to their catalogs.

The good news is that there are far more interested buyers for these homes than there are contractors to build them — even in the current economy.

The downside is that building log and timber homes is not a get-rich-quick niche by any means. Prospects usually take between two and five years to pull the trigger on a log or timber home purchase, but builders willing to invest the time and energy in this market won’t be disappointed.

The Builder’s Role

When it comes to log homes, a home builder’s role can be quite diverse — providing levels of service that fall under one or a combination of the following scenarios:

• Dealers/Sales Representatives — Builders work on a commission basis as an independent representative of a log home manufacturer. Leads are generated through local advertising efforts, as well as through the manufacturer’s marketing initiatives.
  
  
• Builder or Contractor — A more traditional scenario for builders, in this role they provide contracting services to construct the home through the log home manufacturer or sales representative selling the home package. The builder may or may not serve as the general contractor, and construction can range from a shell-in/weather-tight-only build to a full turnkey project.
  
  
• General Contractor — Acting as the turnkey builder in charge of every aspect of the construction process — from site prep to final inspection and move-in — the home builder handles all subcontractors and works directly with both the log home sales representative and the home owner throughout the duration of the project.

A Variety of Log Home Manufacturer Styles — Four General Categories 

From the shape and style of the log, to the type of corner system used, to the way the home is fastened and sealed — builders can choose from a variety of log and timber building systems.  

• Manufactured: Logs are milled to a specific profile (D-log, round log, etc.) and precut to fit a particular home design. With this process, logs are identified by the uniform diameters on the corner profiles. These manufacturers make up about 90% of the log home market.
  
  
• Handcrafted: Typically working with large logs of varying diameters and a hand-hewn appearance, handcrafters pre-construct the entire shell of a home in their log yard to ensure an accurate fit and then re-erect the home in two or three days on the owner’s site. Handcrafters comprise approximately 10% of the market.
  
  
• Post & Beam: Also known as timber frame, this style consists of large horizontal beams and vertical posts that are exposed in the home’s interior. The timbers can either be handcrafted or milled. Often, post & beam homes employ a point-load-bearing system and are enclosed with structural insulated panels.
  
  
• Hybrids: To address the requests of just about any customer, many of NAHB’s Log Homes Council (LHC) members specialize in more than one of the above systems and can incorporate multiple styles in one project.

Going Green — Less Waste, Less Energy to Build            

Log and timber homes are environmentally sound. Not only is timber a highly renewable resource, the modern manufacturing process utilizes every portion of the log. Plus, because the wood used is close to its natural state, less energy is required to process it.

The pre-cut packages also result in less waste on the job site and a reduced environmental impact.

What Sets LHC Members Apart? 

Although there are hundreds of log home providers throughout the United States and Canada, only a select group belongs to the LHC.

These companies are set apart by council membership requirements that offer peace of mind to builders and buyers alike.  Members must comply with the following requirements:

• Certified Log Grading Program: The LHC’s independent third-party grading policy ensures that builders and buyers are getting quality logs and timbers.
  
  
• Code of Ethics: The council’s rigid code was adopted to ensure that the industry produces well-constructed, building code-compliant structures and engages in fair business practices.
  
  
• Accurate Information: Council members agree to provide buyers and builders with truthful, accurate information and educational materials about log home building systems.
  
  
• Construction Manuals: All LHC members must provide detailed construction manuals to ensure that the homes are built according to their particular building systems and state and local codes.
  
  
• Scientific Research: Members are committed to raising log home industry standards and regularly sponsor scientific studies that advance log building technologies.

The Log Homes Council (LHC), part of the NAHB’s Building Systems Councils  (BSC), is America’s premier resource for log home construction information. The council connects manufacturers, builders and customers and educates them on the advantages of building with logs. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/LogHomes; or the council’s consumer site, www.LogHomes.org. Search for log home producers by geographic region at www.nahb.org/LogDirectory. To view a short, informative video about the benefits of log construction and the LHC, visit www.nahb.org/LogVideo.

Content used with permission from Home Buyer Publications (www.homebuyerpubs.com).